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Design, Cost & Planning

Already Have Plans? Get a Construction Cost Review First

Have drawings but no real price to build them? A BuildTech construction cost review in Dublin turns your existing plans into a clear, line-by-line build cost, so you know exactly what your project costs before you commit to site.

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0818 333 443
  • A real build cost from the architect’s drawings you already have
  • A line-by-line breakdown, not a rough estimate
  • Value engineering to bring an over-budget design back on track
  • All building works certified by an Independent Chartered Engineer

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All enquiries are reviewed by our team before a consultation is confirmed.

CIRI Registered

Construction Industry Register Ireland

5★ Google Rated

Verified by Dublin homeowners

CIF Member

Construction Industry Federation

100+ Projects Delivered

Across Greater Dublin Region

Feasibility First

Your Drawings Don't Come With a Price Tag

Architectural drawings show what your home could look like. They rarely tell you what it costs to build. That gap is where budgets slip. A construction cost review by our experts reads your plans the way a builder does and puts a real figure against every element, so the cost for your home renovation or extension is clear before any work begins

  • What your drawings show: layout, size, finishes and design intent
  • What they leave open: structure, services, specification, site conditions and the real build cost in Dublin
  • What a review adds: a costed, buildable version of the same design
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Client Reviews

What Our Clients Say

Rated 5★ across Google, Houzz, and OnlineTradesmen by Dublin homeowners.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
GB
Graham Barry
Google

"Professional, reliable service with clear communication and integrity."

"Professional, reliable service with clear communication and integrity. The team kept us informed at every stage and delivered exactly what was promised. Would recommend to anyone looking for a trustworthy provider."

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
KW
Kirsten Wendenburg
Google

"Excellent communication and budget-friendly suggestions throughout."

"Excellent communication and budget-friendly suggestions throughout. They took the time to understand our needs and offered practical options at every step. The end result exceeded our expectations."

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
OA
Olga Antipenko
Google

"Excellent communication and support throughout. Highly recommend."

"Excellent communication and support throughout. Highly recommend. From the first call to the final handover everything was handled professionally. The team was responsive, knowledgeable and clearly cared about the outcome."

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
JM
James Murphy
Google

"Outstanding work from start to finish. Couldn't be happier with the result."

"Outstanding work from start to finish. Couldn't be happier with the result. They were punctual, tidy and clearly took pride in their craft. The whole project came in on time and on budget."

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
SO
Sarah O'Brien
Google

"Genuinely impressed with the quality and attention to detail."

"Genuinely impressed with the quality and attention to detail. Every aspect of the project was carefully considered and the finish is excellent. I'd use them again without hesitation."

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
DK
David Kelly
Google

"Top-class service. Friendly team and a fair price."

"Top-class service. Friendly team and a fair price. They were upfront about everything, no hidden surprises and the work was completed to a very high standard. Already recommended them to a neighbour."

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Full Project Management

Over Budget? We Find Savings Without Losing the Design

Most designs costs in Dublin come back over budget on the first costing. That does not mean starting again. Value engineering keeps the look and feel of your design while changing what sits behind it: the structure, the build sequence, the specification and the materials. The result is a plan you can afford to build, with the design you wanted intact.

Here is how we help you save: 

  • Redesign to fit the budget with the same layout, with a smarter structure and spec
  • Cut construction costs without cutting quality, where it shows
  • Clear trade-offs, so you decide what stays and what flexes

 

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Not sure what your home renovation will cost? We give you full cost clarity before you commit to anything.

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0818 333 443
How It Works

A Structured Process Built Around Your Budget

BuildTech follows a clear four-step pathway, from initial feasibility through to completed construction, designed to protect your budget and keep your project on track.

1

Feasibility

Budget & scope clarity before any design work begins

Design

Measured survey, technical layout & cost plan
2
3

Planning

Managed application where required, many extensions are exempt

Build

On-time, on-budget delivery with full project management
4
Start with a Feasibility Call
Why BuildTech

Why Your Budget Planning Needs BuildTech Review?

BuildTech is a design and build contractor, not just an estimator. Your plans are priced by the same people who would build them, using real construction cost data from live Dublin projects. You get a cost you can act on, with the structural engineering, planning, and buildability questions answered in one review.

  • Real construction cost data, not a rule-of-thumb estimate
  • Feasibility-led costing with budget clarity before you build
  • Fixed and transparent pricing once the scope is agreed
  • Independent Chartered Engineer certification on all building works
  • One team from the review to the final build
How It Works

Why Does My Build Cost More Than the Architect's Quote?

An architect’s quote covers the design. The build cost covers everything that turns those drawings into a finished home. The difference between the two is not a mistake, it is everything a drawing set leaves out. 

Design fees are not build costs

The figure your architect mentions usually covers drawings, design and their own fee. It does not cover the labour, materials and management it takes to build what they have drawn. Treating a design quote as a build budget is the single most common reason a project comes back over budget once real pricing starts.

Structure and services add up fast

Foundations, steels, drainage, plumbing and electrics rarely appear as a cost on a drawing, but they carry a large share of the build. A wall looks the same on paper whether it is load-bearing or not. The difference in cost between the two is significant, and it only shows once someone prices the structure behind the design.

Specification drives the number more than size

Two extensions of identical floor area can differ by tens of thousands, depending on glazing, finishes, kitchens, bathrooms and fittings. Homeowners tend to picture the space, not the specification, so the finishes chosen after the drawings are done often push the cost well beyond the first rough figure.

Site conditions change the cost before work starts

Access, ground conditions, drainage and the state of the existing structure all affect the build, and none of them are visible on an architectural drawing. A tight side entrance, poor ground or a wall that cannot take the load you planned can all move the cost, which is why a review checks the site, not just the plans.

The programme and VAT are real costs too

Site setup, preliminaries, the contractor’s time on site and VAT are all part of the true build cost, yet a drawing never shows them. Left out of the sums, they are exactly the line items that turn a figure that felt affordable into one that is over budget.

Common Issues

Do You Still Need Planning Permission if You Already Have Plans?

Having drawings is not the same as being ready to build. Plans can be at the sketch stage, waiting on permission and missing the structural detail a build needs. A cost review flags what is still outstanding, so you know if you are ready to build or a step away. If there is a gap, the next move is usually one of these.

Not sure your design is exempt?

Some work needs planning permission. Some does not. Getting it wrong is expensive to fix. If your design needs consent, or you are just not sure, our planning permission service handles the application and the local authority for you.

Budget and brief still open?

If the numbers and the scope have never been tested, pricing the drawings is too early. A feasibility consultation checks what your budget can realistically do first. Then the cost review works from a brief that holds up..

No drawings yet?

If you are still at the idea stage, there is nothing to price yet. Our cost and technical design service produces the drawings and the cost plan together, so you start with both.

Working to a deadline?

If you need to be on site by a set date, the order of these steps matters. A quick cost review tells you what is ready now and what still needs sorting, so nothing holds the build up later.

Exempted Development

What a BuildTech Cost Review Actually Checks

Our construction cost review checks four things: what your project really costs, what could push that cost up, whether it can be built as drawn, and where you can save without losing the design. 

You finish with a costed, buildable version of your plans and a clear view of your options.

  • Line-by-line cost breakdown. Every element priced with real construction cost data, so you get a proper build cost breakdown, not a headline figure.
  • Structural and specification risks. What the drawings assume, and what they miss.
  • Buildability within your budget. Whether the design can be built as drawn, for the money available.
  • Value engineering options. Where to save, and what each choice affects.

Have a plan but want the actual budget? Request a review of the construction costs from industry experts.

Request A Feasibility Consultation
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

A construction cost review takes the drawings you already have and turns them into a real, line-by-line build cost. It checks what your project costs, what could push that cost up, and whether it can be built as designed, before you commit to construction.
I BuildTech's Cost Planning and Construction Review service starts from €2,500 plus VAT. The exact figure depends on the size and complexity of your project. BuildTech works on projects from a minimum value of €100,000, so a review suits full extensions and whole-home renovations rather than small, single-trade jobs.
Most designs do on the first costing, so this is normal. BuildTech uses value engineering to bring the cost down while keeping your design intact, by adjusting the structure, build sequence, specification and materials. You see the options and choose what stays and what flexes.
No. The review is a standalone service and the costed plan is yours to keep. Many homeowners go on to build with BuildTech because the same team already knows the project, but there is no obligation. You can take the report to any contractor.ce report.
Yes. BuildTech can review sketches, developed designs or planning-approved drawings. The earlier you check the cost, the more room there is to adjust the design before fees and decisions stack up. If your plans are not build-ready, the review tells you what is still needed.

Request a Consultation

We review your enquiry before confirming a consultation — ensuring only suitable projects proceed.

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  • Min. project €100k · No surprises

What's Included

  • Feasibility consultation included
  • Measured survey & assessment
  • Technical design package
  • Full project management
  • Engineer certification on completion

Related Services

Home Renovation

House Extension

Attic Conversion

Deep Retrofit

Feasibility Consultation

Not sure where to start?

A feasibility consultation (€200 call · €500 home visit) confirms your planning position before you spend anything on drawings.

Book Feasibility Call
Exempted Development

Our Services

BuildTech is a specialist design and build contractor. We take on a focused range of projects — and we do not progress any project without a clear, agreed budget.

Single-Storey Rear Extension

The most common home project in Dublin. Open-plan kitchen and living, utility room, or additional family space — from feasibility through to a certified, compliant build.

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Home Renovation

Whole-home renovations and structural alterations for Dublin homeowners. Internal reconfigurations, layout redesign, and full refurbishment — all budget-led from day one.

Learn More

Feasibility Consultation

€200 call or €500 home visit. We establish what is realistically achievable within your budget before any design work begins — saving you time, money, and stress.

Learn More

Planning Permission

Full application management — pre-planning strategy, drawings, submission, and decision monitoring. Many extensions are planning exempt; we confirm this first.

Learn More

Already Have Plans?

Cost Planning & Construction Review from €2,500 + VAT. We provide a full cost breakdown of your existing drawings — gap identification, budget alignment, and value engineering.

Learn More

Cost & Technical Design

Measured survey, technical layout, and a detailed cost plan — all aligned to your budget before construction begins. No over-specified designs that cannot be built within your means.

Learn More

Exempted Development

Recent Projects

Each project below started with a feasibility consultation and a clear budget. Here is what we delivered.

All Projects

Extension + Renovation

Full Ground Floor Renovation with Rear Extension

Location : Dublin

Scope : Ground floor knock-through, rear extension, open-plan kitchen and living

Status : Planning exempt

✓ Delivered on time and on budget

Extension + Renovation

Sandymount Seafront
Renovation

Location : Sandymount, Dublin 4

Scope : Full home renovation of period seafront property

Status : Planning exempt

✓ Full project management, completed on programme

Extension + Renovation

Rear Extension Plus Partial Renovation, Dublin 14

Location : Dublin 14

Scope : Single-storey rear extension and partial ground-floor renovation

Status : Planning exempt

✓ On budget, handover on schedule

Extension + Renovation

20 sqm Single-Storey Rear Extension, Mount Merrion

Location : Mount Merrion, South Dublin

Scope : 20 sqm flat-roof rear extension, open-plan kitchen and dining

Status : Planning exempt

✓ Completed on time and on budget

Extension + Renovation

Split-Level Open Plan Kitchen & Lounge Renovation

Location : Dublin

Scope : Structural reconfiguration, split-level open-plan kitchen and lounge

Status : Planning exempt

✓ Full project management included

Ready to Start the Design of Your Project?

BuildTech produces architectural designs that always reflect what the build will actually cost — before any construction is committed. Talk to us first.

Request a Consultation →
0818 333 443

No obligation. No pressure. Just honest advice.